His passing is very good if played as a CB imo. He's currently playing as a RB for his club which skews his passing stats but for his NT his pass completion is at 89% which is quite impressive for a CB I'd say.He looks good with the ball at his feet and that's something that seems to be talked about, but how is his actual passing? Being good at the first doesn't necessarily mean his passing is particularly good. For instance I'd say Bailly is good with the ball at his feet, but his passing is quite inconsistent.
Passing percentages don't mean too much, it's more what they actually do with it. For instance, Smalling normally has the highest passing percentage of our defenders because he just plays simple balls. Obviously having a low completion rate would be an issue though.His passing is very good if played as a CB imo. He's currently playing as a RB for his club which skews his passing stats but for his NT his pass completion is at 89% which is quite impressive for a CB I'd say.
The young Ajax CB De Ligt who is lauded by many as being a good passer of the ball from the back, averages 90% in the Eredivisie in Holland.
His passing is very good, and especially the ball over the top,which I've seen him attempt a number of times whilst bringing the ball out from the back.Passing percentages don't mean too much, it's more what they actually do with it. For instance, Smalling normally has the highest passing percentage of our defenders because he just plays simple balls. Obviously having a low completion rate would be an issue though.
You just said you arent doing thatAnd I will keep feeding it because I believe Milenkovic is a super talent.
Discussing what an ex pro and the Serbian media said about Milenkovic in comparison to Vidic shouldn't be viewed as a bad thing, should it? Some of our fans seem to get defensive in such discussions which is disappointing. Comparisons of this nature are inevitable given the back grounds of the respective players.You just said you arent doing that
It doesnt take a brilliant manager when you have a far superior squadYes they have a brilliant manager.
These guys will not come cheap and doubt they will address the needed leadership and organizationI'd certainly much prefer this lad to fecking Cahill or Boateng. If we jettison Bailly, Rojo and Jones in January and bring in Skriniar and Milenkovic I think it would be seen as fairly successful window by the club and manager, as the buys are ones that can benefit the next manager as well.
and have you seen koulibaly leading and organizing a defence?He might become a top CB but we need instant quality. For me we should try to sign Koulibaly in January. Ship off Jones, Rojo and maybe Smalling in the summer. And keep Tuanzebe as a back up alongside Lindelof and Bailly. Milenkovic should be looked at if either Lindelof or Bailly fail to perform with Koulibaly alongside them because there's no excuse about leadership or quality.
Yes I have, multiple times. He is one of the best defenders on the planet. You think he can't organise Allan infront of him and Rui next to him? Nonsensical thinking.and have you seen koulibaly leading and organizing a defence?
Please list in which teams he has been the defensive leader and the one organizing the defence.Yes I have, multiple times. He is one of the best defenders on the planet. You think he can't organise Allan infront of him and Rui next to him? Nonsensical thinking.
His current team. N A P O L I. And quality does play into it. Having a top quality defender next to Bailly and jones would fill them with confidence compared to Smalling. If not Koulibaly which leader is available? Alderweireld? Who doesnt look anywhere near as good as he did previously.Please list in which teams he has been the defensive leader and the one organizing the defence.
This has less to do with individual quality but an understanding of the game and the quality to get other defenders to follow your guidance
I don't think anyones claimed that, but I have seen a fair amount of games he's been involved in for club and country.Let me guess, many people here watch Fiorentina regulary and now everything about this guy?
Our fans watch United all the time and can't separate which of our players is good and which one isn't, so I wouldn't believe anyone who says he knows something about some Fiorentina player. Sorry.I don't think anyones claimed that, but I have seen a fair amount of games he's been involved in for club and country.
That's understandable buddy..Our fans watch United all the time and can't separate which of our players is good and which one isn't, so I wouldn't believe anyone who says he knows something about some Fiorentina player. Sorry.
What is your definition of a defensive leader? How do you recognise one?Please list in which teams he has been the defensive leader and the one organizing the defence.
This has less to do with individual quality but an understanding of the game and the quality to get other defenders to follow your guidance
Tbf, from the video (which is admittedly only a few minutes), it looks like he stays on his feet when he can (though tackles with his "wrong foot" at times?) BUT slides in when he thinks he needs to.I like defenders who stay on their feet. It's one thing I don't like about Bailly. Otamendi is another example.
So he should avoid signing for a massive club that would very likely have a role in the starting 11 for him, for the good of his career? That doesn't make sense. I could understand joining United when we had Vidic and Rio in their prime, but certainly not now.There is some weird hype about this one, if he is smart, he will stay away from us, actually think he should take steps best for his development instead of making weird jumps.
De Ligt looks a natural leader at 19.What is your definition of a defensive leader? How do you recognise one?
Doubt that, so yea he should stay clear from United at the moment.So he should avoid signing for a massive club that would very likely have a role in the starting 11 for him, for the good of his career? That doesn't make sense. I could understand joining United when we had Vidic and Rio in their prime, but certainly not now.
Wrong - Albiol is the defensive leader for Napoli or why do you think the 33yrs old is starting ahead of younger more athletic and individually better defenders. Last season, after 26 games, napoli had conceded only 8 goals in 20 games keeping 13 clean sheets with Albiol but without Albiol, they conceded 7 goals in 8 games with only 1 clean sheet. (FYI Alderweireld is a much better individual defender than Albiol).His current team. N A P O L I. And quality does play into it. Having a top quality defender next to Bailly and jones would fill them with confidence compared to Smalling. If not Koulibaly which leader is available? Alderweireld? Who doesnt look anywhere near as good as he did previously.
He is the guy that understands the game and gets the backline functioning as one. In most cases they rely more on positioning than athleticism to win possession (though the truly great ones excel at both). When he is absent, the quality of the defence seems to drop significantly more than the missing individual quality.What is your definition of a defensive leader? How do you recognise one?
It does when he actually knows how to improve them.It doesnt take a brilliant manager when you have a far superior squad
Exactly. Weird and surprising how people still downplay the role of manager when it's so obvious and right infront our eyes, especially in last 1 or 2 seasons in PL.It does when he actually knows how to improve them.
so who was the unknown player that has been turned into a star by this manager?It does when he actually knows how to improve them.
Its not really.Exactly. Weird and surprising how people still downplay the role of manager when it's so obvious and right infront our eyes, especially in last 1 or 2 seasons in PL.
Smalling does all this. The thing is just having a player try to get people to do what they are supposed to doesnt mean it works, or that they are listened to. A new player could come in, take up great positions and bark orders at the other players and they are still out of position and making mistakes. The manager can take those players out of the team, or sign someone to replace them. A CB cannot.He is the guy that understands the game and gets the backline functioning as one. In most cases they rely more on positioning than athleticism to win possession (though the truly great ones excel at both). When he is absent, the quality of the defence seems to drop significantly more than the missing individual quality.
On the pitch, you can see them communicating and directing other defenders and GK e.g. marking assignment, correcting mistakes, drawing attention to potential threats etc. A clear example is seen with VVD or Kompany
I mean, Smalling always has high pass completion so that doesn't necessarily tell you that someone is a good passer. You can at least factor in how many passes a player makes per match but that still doesn't say everything about the topic. Regardless for Serbia in the nations league he averages 66.4 passes, 3rd most of his team. De Ligt averages 72 passes per game which is the highest amount of his team with the same accuracy.His passing is very good if played as a CB imo. He's currently playing as a RB for his club which skews his passing stats but for his NT his pass completion is at 89% which is quite impressive for a CB I'd say.
The young Ajax CB De Ligt who is lauded by many as being a good passer of the ball from the back, averages 90% in the Eredivisie in Holland.
Do not make arguments you can't back up.so who was the unknown player that has been turned into a star by this manager?
Do not mistake the benefits of playing with high quality players with individual development.
Smalling himself doesnt know the right thing to do and thus cant guide others.Smalling does all this. The thing is just having a player try to get people to do what they are supposed to doesnt mean it works, or that they are listened to. A new player could come in, take up great positions and bark orders at the other players and they are still out of position and making mistakes. The manager can take those players out of the team, or sign someone to replace them. A CB cannot.
Its a valid question cos you cannot make a case for a manager improving players if all the players that he has 'improved' were already of a high quality.Do not make arguments you can't back up.
Who said he took unknown players? Or is that you making up shit to construct a weak response?
De Ligt plays in a team which likes to dominate possession hence why he averages more. The Dutch style with building from the back and keeping possession gives the CB's a platform to play which i've always admired. The numbers you posted don't surprise me.I mean, Smalling always has high pass completion so that doesn't necessarily tell you that someone is a good passer. You can at least factor in how many passes a player makes per match but that still doesn't say everything about the topic. Regardless for Serbia in the nations league he averages 66.4 passes, 3rd most of his team. De Ligt averages 72 passes per game which is the highest amount of his team with the same accuracy.
That would be the case if you've been watching a team that's not Manchester City and pretending it's them. Sane, Jesus, Sterling and Stones are all players who nobody expected to reach the level they did last season (record breaking league title level). In fact, sod just the young ones. He improved most individuals in that team to lead them to produce team peformances that would go down as one of the best in English league football. Not to mention the improvement in the 'team' aspect.Its a valid question cos you cannot make a case for a manager improving players if all the players that he has 'improved' were already of a high quality.
Two cases that counter your claim are Jesus and Sane, as they were less proven when acquired but neither has shown any trace of stepping up to a higher level and instead seem to have fallen in the pecking order with acquisition of better developed alternatives.
When you play with better players, you tend to look better than when playing with lesser ones e.g. see lukaku with belgium where he has superior players like Hazard to take attention away from him, a luxury he doesnt get with the club.
No, you don't know what a CB is supposed to do therefore you assume Smalling doesnt.Smalling himself doesnt know the right thing to do and thus cant guide others.
Part of being a leader is having the ability to get others to follow your guidance and instructions. This often requires you command the respect of others.
It is reasonable to assume that each player is acting to the best of their abilities and thus poor actions are due to poor judgement. Then such a player will comply with guidance from another who he accepts has superior knowledge, but would likely ignore someone he does not trust his judgement. If players ignore smalling, its likely cos they dont accept his guidance as being superior.
There is nothing spectacular about the development of those players.That would be the case if you've been watching a team that's not Manchester City and pretending it's them. Sane, Jesus, Sterling and Stones are all players who nobody expected to reach the level they did last season (record breaking league title level). In fact, sod just the young ones. He improved most individuals in that team to lead them to produce team peformances that would go down as one of the best in English league football. Not to mention the improvement in the 'team' aspect.
That you're actually bothering to waste time disputing Guardiola's impact on that team shows up your lack of perspective anyway. Having a talented squad doesn't mean you can't improve them.
